St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-10

tude. Organization is the basis of all
progress, political, social, and religious.
We condemn the work of anarchists,
like Samson of old. They would fain
pull down the edifice of the constitution
which shelters them, even though they
should
PERISH IN THE RUINS.
The men that would endeavOr to under
mine the laws and institutions of this
great and glorious country deserve the
fate of those who laid prOfane hands ON
the lark of the living God.' Socialism
takes different position beyond the
pale of the church and announces such
an extreme policy that one does not
need TO hesitate moment to reach
a conclusion as to its merits and influ-
ence. 1t boldly abOliShes all religious
restraint Os fatuous, denounces all eX-
tant forms of worship and goes back to
what is called nature and what the
world calls 'atheiSm'-we express full
faith in the maintenance of friendliness
between the church and the order so
long as You keep free from affiliations
with dangerous associations and devote
Yourself to the fulfillment of your legit-
innate missions. The church plays not
the tyrant, plants no faith in blood, nor
bears destruction on her chariot wheels,
but StoOpS to polish, succOr and redress
and builds her grandeur on the public
good His eminence intimated to your
committee his intended journey to
Rome, promised to explain the purposes
of the organization at the vatican and
requested permission to pledge the order
to maintenance of
LAWFUL AND ORDERLY BEHAVIOR.
How this prince of the church fulfilled
his covenant made with us and how he
champloned our cause in the eternal
city we know full well, and the express
sion of pontificial good will for the
order of the Knights OF Labor, which
came to us last March, was due solely to
the earnest and intelligent advocacy of
our case by Cardinal Gibbons. His
eminence knew well how to express
and communicate the impulses Of his
own inspired soul, and our grateful and
profound thanks are due to him for the
extraordinary favOrS he has bestowed
upon our order i'll OverfiOwing meas
ures. In his report to the propaganda,
his eminence said: ''In submitting to
the Holy see the conclusions which,
after several months of observation and
deep reflection, seem to me to sum up
the question of the association of the
Knights of Labor, l am strongly con-
vinced of the vast Importance of this
question, which forms but one
ring in the great chain of the
social problems of our day and
especially of our country. The order is
not hostile to religion. We have not
found in the constitution. bylaws and
official declarations, the elements which
the Holy see so clearly indicates as
condemnatory, and the formula of the
organization contains neither oath nor
obligation which precludes those who
do not belong to it from becoming ac-
auainted with their affairs. This has
been specially explained to us by the
principal officers. No promise of
| BLIND OBEDIENCE
is required. Not only their objects and
their rules are not hostile to religion or
the church, but the very contrary. The
general master workman, in sending me
copy of the constitution, took occasion
to tGTequest with filial submission that
the pastors of the church examine all
the details OF their body, and faithfully
promised that if they found therein anv-
thing reprehensible to point it out aud
lie would recommend that the
proper notifications be made
Assuredly, this does not look
like hostility toward the authority
of the church, but, on the contrary, it is
a perfectly laudable spirit. After their
convention in Richmond their most zeal
Gus officers made the same declaration
regarding their sentiments. Not only
their constitution and regulations con-
tain nothing of the sort, but the heads
of our civil authorities treat them and
the cause they represent with the great
est respect. The president of the United
States told me personally but short
time ago that he had then sunder con-
sideration law<tending to remedy Ger
tain social grievances and that he had
just had conference with Mr.. Pow
derly, the general maSterWorkman of
the Knights of Labor. The congress
of the United States. following the adj
| vice of the president, is now consider
ing measures tending to ameliorate the
| condition of the working classes. The
| foundation for many of these complaints
| is openly acknowledged, and the politi-
cal parties far from looking upon
| them as
ENEMIES OF THE COUNTRY
vie with each other to obtain for them
the rights they are so clearly entitled to,
for it is fact well known that the poor
tOilerS have no inclination to resist or
break the laws of the land, but simply
to obtain equitable legislation by CON
stitutiOnal and legitimate means. The
workingman has the right to organize
for his own protection. and it is the duty
of the public at large to aid him in find
ing remedy against the dangers with
which civilization and social order are
menaced by avarice, oppression and cor
ruption. 1t seems to Inc plain that the
holy see cannot entertain the proposal
to condemn the order of the Knights of
Labor.
First-Because such condemnation does
| not appear to be justified either by the letter
or by the spirit of its constitution of its laws
| or by the declaration of its heads
Secondhand such condemnation does
! not appear necessary in view of the transient
form of the organization and of the social
| condition of the United States.
Third-That it would not be prudent on
account of the reality of the wrongs of the
| workingmen, and the fact that the existence
| of such lsadmitted by the American public.
Fourth-That it would be dangerous to the
reputation of the church in our democratic
| country.
! Fifth-That it would be powerless to COM
| pei the obedience of our Catholic working
| men, who would regard it as false and iniaui-
| tous
| Sixth-That it would be destructive in
| stead of beneficial in its effects forcing the
sons of the church to rebel against their
mother, and to range themselves with con-
demned societies, which they have hitherto
avoided.
Seventh--That it would turn into doubt
and hostility the marked devotion of our
people toward the holy see.
Eighth-That it would be regarded as
cruel blow to the authority of the bishops of
the United states. who, it is well kown, pro-
test against such a condemnation.
A FORCIBLE PLEA.
Thus it WILDE seen that his eminence
made a forcible public plea for the
working classes. The bearing of the
vatican toward the order has been
friendly and conciliatory. The Knights
of Labor remain untouched, and it will
be our particular duty to prevent the
order from committing anything against
the civil and ecclesiastical laws which
might be condemned by the church or
the state. His holiness, the pope, wisely
determined not to provoke an antagon-